And so, on that day, the day of the Battle for Hardrik, Artuck and his brothers stood by the rebellion, vowing to help however they could. But it was so quick. Lights flashed, fire danced in front of Artuck’s eyes, and explosions everywhere. Smoke filled Artuck’s nostrils, as well as the putrid smell of death. So much death. It was everywhere. Even the earth itself shook, and quiet was no longer possible, but yet Artuck could still hear the ringing in his ears from the silenced screams after the blasts. The smoke cleared, and revealed to him that they were all that was left. No more of the rebellion were alive. And just as quickly as it had started, it came down to just Haldore, and Artuck and his brothers.

“What are you all doing? I gave you an assignment!” Haldore boomed, hovering twenty feet above the ground, his cloak billowing dramatically.

“I told you, insubordination will not be tolerated! Now stand down, or else face my wrath! Not just as your father, but as your enemy!” Totto quickly jumped in front of them, putting his arms to the side, defending them.

“Father!” tears streamed down Totto’s cheek as he screamed, and they glistened in the glow of the flames.

“Father, please! We have realized what you are! We knew not what you were, and these people so graciously showed us our folly! Do what you must, but I will not allow you to kill my brothers!” Totto turned towards them, smiled weakly, more tears streaming down his face, before turning back towards Haldore.

“Then, Totto, you are my son no longer. PERISH.” 

Totto screamed. A loud, agonizing scream. A scream one only screams in sheer terror, as if they were experiencing hell on earth. Artuck closed his eyes, but still he knew what was happening. Krim whimpered as Artuck heard bones snap, muscles popping, and as Artuck opened his eyes, he saw Totto evaporate. Just like that. In the blink of an eye. In a single moment. How could this be? H-how? Is Haldore that strong that he doesn’t even have to get near us for him to kill us? Artuck reached and grabbed Krim, and pulled him close, Krim bawling into Artuck’s soiled tunic.

“YOU BAHSTUD!” Percel screamed before unleashing a torrent of flame upon Haldore, who simply waved a hand, and flung the fire away, all without even looking at it.

“You too, my child? Then it pains me to do this.” Artuck blinked, and Haldore was gone. And so was Percel. Haldore hovered higher above the ground than where he was a second ago, now with a limp Percel on his blood-drenched sword. Haldore scoffed, and as he went to push Percel off of the sword, the boy reached up and drove a dagger straight into Haldore’s neck, who screamed profanities, and launched Percel into the air, suspending him above the ground, floating there for a moment, before furiously casting a beam of pure light, so bright Artuck could still see it with his eyes closed, and he only heard Percel’s screams for a split second, before they were silenced. Permanently. Marll nudged Artuck.

“Run, Artuck, and don’t look back. You’ll find nothing more here for you two. Haldore is going to kill me. I know he will. The most I can do is offer you a mere moment to escape. Hopefully, that’ll be all you’ll need. As long as at least one of you lives, Alteran may still be able to rid itself of its despicable ruler. And I’d love to see it. And maybe I will. Hopefully I will.”

“Don’t you boys get it?” Haldore yelled.

“All of this work, all of my power, everything was for you all! And yet you all simply cast it away like stubborn toddlers! If you will not appreciate the gift I have given you, then so help me, I will take it back, like I already did those two! Join me, Artuck! Join me, Krim! And you’ll have more power than you could even dream of! Hell, you’ll be heirs to my empire! You will be kings! And more importantly, you will be revered as the greatest in history, and you will be handed a peaceful nation upon a silver platter! Don’t you get it? I am your father! That’s all I want, is to be your father! But your stubbornness has driven you from me! Come back to me, my children,” tears began to stream down Haldore’s cheeks as he spoke, his voice breaking, “and my love for you will grow like never before.”

“No, father.” Marll dug his feet into the ground, readying himself to attack.

“You lost us the moment you lied to us.”

Haldore’s tears immediately vanished, and he corrected his posture. His voice returned to normal.

“Then so be it. Your stubbornness will be your demise.”

Artuck sprang into action, threw Krim over his shoulder, and casted the only spell he knew, launching a pillar of light directly into Haldore’s eye, and as Marll launched himself towards Haldore, Artuck turned and dashed away into the forest, tears still rolling down his cheeks, Krim screaming to let him go. As Artuck ran, he could still hear the fight between Haldore and Marll, and much to Artuck’s despair, it was not a long battle. Artuck could still hear Marll’s screams as he perished to Haldore’s hand. But Artuck kept running.

For weeks after, Artuck and Krim journeyed North, before Krim informed Artuck that he wanted to stay in Helt. Artuck tried to beg him to stay, but Krim’s resolve was greater than Artuck’s, and inevitably left Artuck alone. Cold. Silent. The ringing still ran through Artuck’s ears as he wept into the nighttime sky during the nights he felt the loneliest, the coldest. Even when he tried to dream, Artuck’s mind was full of the memories of his brothers being killed by his own father. No, Haldore. He was Artuck’s father no more. And he would kill him, to avenge his brothers. 

So Artuck began to devise a plan, but no sooner had he decided to act on it than he received word that Krim had been killed. Artuck had seen the wanted posters, but it was lingering hope for Artuck to see those signs, as they were signs of Krim’s wellbeing. But now that Krim had died, Artuck gave up. He was the last. And he didn’t want to die. For a moment Artuck considered turning himself in, before throwing out the idea as preposterous. After all, one of them should live on, if one day hope were to return. Slowly, Artuck journeyed across Alteran to the quietest town he could think of. Halden. Nothing ever happened there. And it was safe there. Forest all around, docile creatures everywhere. It would be his home. And there, Artuck decided, was where he would stay until he mustered the courage to continue his brothers’ fight. And there he would wait, for as long as it took…